Number
1358 - Saturday 4th July 2026
I.B.M.
British Ring Convention, Buxton Pavilion Arts Centre and Opera House, 19th &
20th September 2026. Artist Announcement from the organisers: We are very
excited that Andrew O'Connor will be doing a live Q&A at our Convention!
Andrew began his career as a magician/standup comedian and actor in
theatre and television.
Notable roles include Bill Snibson in 'Me And My Girl' and the title role in 'Barnum'. In 1997 he retired from performing to concentrate on writing, producing and directing. He is co-founder of Objective Productions which he ran from 1996 2015. During that time he created/produced dozens of television series. Key credits include Peep Show, Derren Brown's series and specials, Star Stories, The Real Hustle, The Cube, and Fresh Meat.
Through his new company Vaudeville he produces Grace for ITV (currently
shooting series 7) and the forthcoming Incognito for Channel 4. Andrew
is co-producer/director of: Unbelievable, Derren Brown Showman, Derren
Brown Miracle and Derren Brown Secret which played off and on Broadway
and won the Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical experience. Derren
Brown: Only Human will open in the West End in October.
As well as working with Derren Brown on all of his TV and stage shows Andrew has created/produced many other TV magic shows including: Monkey Magic, Dirty Tricks, Tricks From The Bible, The Magic of Jesus, The Quick Trick Show, Extreme Magic Extreme Danger, The Next Great Magician and Secrets of Magic - a show that caused him to be thrown out of The Magic Circle. Andrew has also collaborated with: Pat Page, Ali Bongo, James Steinmeyer, Paul Kieve and Andy Nyman and he played a key role in the early TV careers of Jonathan Goodwin, Pete Firman, and Barry & Stuart. Perhaps most importantly of all, Andrew was the winner of The Young Magician of The Year in 1981. For tickets Click Here. 4.7.26
Andi
Gladwin, Mathew Knight, Pete Heat at Leeds Magic Jam, 6th September !
From the organisers. This year's lineup: Andi Gladwin: Worker, author,
creator, defender and all round magical living legend! Mathew Knight:
Current Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year! and Pete Heat:
Character driven zany comedy magician.
All of our guests will be performing and lecturing for you, at this one
day, intimate convention! Not only that, but we will have dealers
providing everything from second-hand gems to the latest and greatest
releases... from independent creators, to mainstream suppliers... there
really is something for everyone from our dealers!
Sunday 6th September at Garforth Welfare Hall, 56 Main Street, Garforth, Leeds LS25 1AA. Tickets are available now and limited to 100 spaces. When they're gone, they're gone! So get yours now: www.ticketebo.co.uk/leeds-magic-jam. 4.7.26
CCC
Convention 17th & 18th April 2027. From the organisers: CCC is back with a
new line up, and a brand new venue. Tickets are first come first served, the new
venue has a brilliant small theatre with an overhead camera and PA system, as
well as being attached to a bar that is open until 1am! The lineup for 2027 is
Graeme Shaw. Graeme is a really busy working professional and also runs
Magicbox. His lecture involves some of his commercial close up magic, as well as
tips for family entertainers! Graeme is a past winner of family entertainer of
the year at Blackpool magic convention, so he certainly knows his stuff!
Etienne Pradier. Hilariously funny, extremely commercial magic with a
touch of "oh la laaa" if you haven't seen him lecture before, you are in for a
treat!
Vinny Sagoo. Vinny uses sleight of hand, as well as devilishly clever
mathematical principles to create wonderful close up magic that will fool, and
entertain you!
Daniel Chard. Daniel is an expert cardician and a busy working pro, he
also does a comedy stand up act that can be seen regularly at Smoke and Mirrors
in Bristol. A lecture that will have something for everyone.
Jay Adkins. Jay has been collecting Tenyo magic since he was a young
child, and has some very rare and extremely fooling pieces. He will be
demonstrating and talking all things Tenyo in his lecture. I've seen this myself
and it is thoroughly enjoyable!
Matt Windsor. Matt has been at the top of the corporate entertainment
field for many years, he is resident magician at Manchester United and is known
for his pickpocketing skills as well as being a brilliant entertainer. Matt will
be teaching some of the techniques he has developed over the years, as well as
telling some hilarious (and true) stories. I've heard some and they are so
funny. See
www.stellarmagicshop.com.
4.7.26
Houdini-themed
open afternoon at the Modern Mystic League, Blackburn, 12th July.
Brian Lead writes: Roger
Woods, Chairman of the Modern Mystic League (Blackburn), extends a warm
welcome for a Houdini-themed open afternoon on Sunday, 12th July, to
commemorate the centenary of the Great Escaper's death in 1926.
There will be a new talk by Prof Peter Haddad on Houdini's life from a
psychological perspective, along with a number of Houdini-related tricks
and entertainment.
In addition, Roger will be displaying items from his collection and
presenting a virtual tour of The House of Houdini in Budapest which he
has recently visited, reprising a talk given at this year's Magic Circle
History Day.
The whole event, including refreshments, will be free of charge. It will
commence at 2pm, and the venue is: Woodlands United Reform Church
Hall, 457 Preston Old Road, Cherry Tree, Blackburn BB2 5ND.
4.7.26
Steven
Goodwin's Dissecting Methods Lecture, Using Mathematics in Magic -
Zodiac Magical Society, 15th July. Adrian King writes: Next Wednesday, 15th July, the Zodiac Magical
Society in west London will be hosting a lecture by Steven Goodwin aka
James Merlin. Nine effects including rapid calculations, predictions,
forces, Gilbreath and a memory effect requiring no memory work. When you
know their mechanics, you can easily adapt and expand the tricks in new
and
interesting ways, which would otherwise be impossible.
This event will take place from 8pm-10pm in our club room located just
a five-minute walk from Northfields tube station on the Piccadilly Line.
There is a £10 charge on the door for visitors. Email
membership@zodiacmagicalsociety.co.uk to let us know that you are coming
as soon as possible, as we have limited places. Follow us on Instagram
at @zodiacmagicalsociety for updates, or on our website:
www.zodiacmagicalsociety.co.uk.
4.7.26
Final
Tables Released for North West Magic Dealers Day. Jonathan Royle PRO
for The Order of the Magi writes: Manchester's Magic Club and Magical
Society for Magicians and Mind Readers has just released the final few 6
foot tables for you to sell your new, used and second-hand Magic and
Mentalism Tricks, Books and related items at our Dealers Day which takes
place on Sunday 15th November from 10am to 5pm at The Irish World
Heritage Centre on Queens Road (not far from the Metrolink Station).
Book yours now:
www.orderofthemagi.co.uk/dealersday.
4.7.26
The
MagicWeek Video Archive. A new magic clip or show every week! This
week, Martin Daniels on The Little and Large Show from 24th December
1983. See
The MagicWeek Video Archive. To catch up with more from The
MagicWeek Video Archive
Click Here.
4.7.26
Mason King The Mind Spy at The Buxton
Fringe.
After a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe run and winning Best Original Show at
Liverpool Fringe Festival, Mason King brings The Mind Spy to Buxton
Fringe.
Inspired by real Cold War psychic experiments and the infamous Project
Stargate programme, The Mind Spy combines theatrical mentalism,
psychological magic and immersive storytelling to create a unique live
experience.
Throughout the show, audience members take part in a series of
experiments exploring thought transmission, precognition and
psychological influence.
Stylish, interactive and thought-provoking, The Mind Spy blends
impossible moments with a gripping theatrical atmosphere inspired by the
secretive world of psychic espionage.
★★★★★ "A Must See Show" The Derek Awards
★★★★★ "Astounding" Fringe Review Canada
Saturday 18th July at 4pm & Sunday 19th July at
4pm.
Running Time: 50 minutes.
Price: £7-£10.
Venue: Underground at The Working Men's Club, 15 Lightwood Road, Buxton,
Derbyshire SK17 7BJ.
Tickets:
www.underthefringe.com.
4.7.26
Magical
Bones presents Black Magic Live. "This is a 30-minute action-packed magic
special, performed live at the Bloomsbury Theatre. Bones brings a set of
powerful illusions intertwined with great stories, beautiful music and of
course, the coolest break-dance moves."
YouTube.
4.7.26
The
Leveridge Legacy Collection July Releases. Mark says: One of the types of
magic that I am well known for is magic with specially gimmicked envelopes. The
latest batch of LLC products features a special pack of three Mini Leveridge
Envelopes which enable you to produce, vanish or even switch anything that will
fit inside. Measuring 95mm x 70mm, these black letter style envelopes are just a
bit bigger than a Bicycle card and so can be used in all manner of card
routines. But they are also perfect as a means of producing quickly and
convincingly your business card, thus making them a perfect magical promotional
tool to keep in your wallet. For more information on these and all the other
items still available in the Leveridge Legacy Collection of time-limited
physical products, go to
www.markleveridge.co.uk/the-leveridge-legacy-collection.
4.7.26
Stranded
with a Stranger: Tim Ambrose.
"A single moment can reboot your creativity and for Tim Ambrose, it
happened in a Las Vegas hotel mall while everyone else went out for the night.
He wandered into a magic shop, watched the free demos again and again and felt
the same rush he'd had as a kid seeing his brother perform. That spark turned
into years of collecting, performing for friends and building friendships
through local magic shops, the kind of brick and mortar spaces that feel like a
clubhouse for close-up magicians..."
YouTube. Brought to you by
www.alakazam.co.uk.
Ben Hart The Labyrinth - Bolton Octagon, tonight! Ben Hart to present exclusive preview of new
show at Bolton Octagon, 4th July. Ben Hart will present an exclusive
preview of his new theatrical magic show, The Labyrinth, at the
Bolton Octagon ahead of its full run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Ben Hart is known for his television appearances and original theatre
productions combining magic, storytelling and psychological illusion.
The Labyrinth is Hart's new 55-minute theatrical magic show,
which will receive a special preview performance at the Bolton Octagon
before opening at Assembly George Square Gardens throughout August for
the 2026 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Saturday 4th July at 8pm at Octagon
Theatre, Howell Croft South BL1 1SB. Tickets and further information:
www.octagonbolton.co.uk.
4.7.26
Mark Bennett Lecture - Nottingham Guild of Magicians, tonight! Andrew Hickling writes: The Nottingham Guild of Magicians presents Mark Bennett's 'Crowd Work' lecture at the Ponds Hill Community Centre, Ponds Hill Lane, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 8DR on Thursday 4th July at 7pm. "You already have the personality. Now learn how to use it". Visitors £10.00 on the door. Doors 7pm. 4.7.26
Alexander
Armstrong Across America. Nevada, Arizona and Utah. Series 1,
episode 3. Alexander travels from the mighty Hoover Dam to the bright
lights of Las Vegas and the deserts of Utah, exploring the engineering
that reshaped the American west. He uncovers Las Vegas's hidden stories,
from homelessness beneath the Strip to the legacy of segregation, and
meets craftsmen keeping neon alive, a British magician, and volunteers
preparing for life on Mars, before taking on a spectacular rope swing
over a vast desert canyon. Saturday 11th July on 5. See
TV Magic.
4.7.26
"Gold
Coast magician Daniel Hidden's cause of death revealed as heartbroken
mum shares final wish"
www.7news.com.au.
4.7.26
"Oxfordshire
magician duo wow America's Got Talent judges"
Click Here "A relationship That Forced Two Magicians to Tip Their
Hand" [free sign-up]
Click Here "Review: The Magician's Table"
Click Here "Event review: The Magician's Table at The Vaults"
Click Here "Appleton celebrates the enduring magic of Houdini 100
years after his death"
Click Here "'Daredevil' magicians honor Houdini in the Appleton
plaza bearing his name"
Click Here "National Magician Convention dazzles in Appleton"
Click Here "Laugh first. Gasp later. Funny magician takes over the
studio"
Click Here
"Escape game Houdini in Paris: can you pull off the escape of the most
famous illusionist?"
Click Here
As always your UK magic news is very welcome. See you next week, Duncan.
4.7.26